Difficulty Class

Difficulty Class (DC) is a numerical value that represents the level of difficulty or challenge associated with an action attempted by a player character (PC) or non-player character (NPC). The DC is typically determined by the guide manager (GM) or other rules.

When a player wants to perform a specific action, such as picking a lock, persuading an NPC, or avoiding a trap, the GM sets a DC for that action. The player then needs to roll dice, usually using a 20-sided die (a d20), and add modifiers based on their character’s abilities, skills, or other relevant factors. If the total result equals or exceeds the DC, the action succeeds; otherwise, it fails.

The DC serves as a benchmark to determine the probability of success for a given action. Higher DCs indicate more challenging tasks, requiring the player to roll higher numbers to succeed. Conversely, lower DCs represent easier tasks, with a higher chance of success.